OMENS by Kelley Armstrong

Twenty-four-year-old Olivia Taylor Jones has the perfect life. The only daughter of a wealthy, prominent Chicago family, she has an Ivy League education, pursues volunteerism and philanthropy, and is engaged to a handsome young tech firm CEO with political ambitions. 

But Olivia s world is shattered when she learns that she s adopted. Her real parents? Todd and Pamela Larsen, notorious serial killers serving a life sentence. When the news brings a maelstrom of unwanted publicity to her adopted family and fianc , Olivia decides to find out the truth about the Larsens. 

Olivia ends up in the small town of Cainsville, Illinois, an old and cloistered community that takes a particular interest in both Olivia and her efforts to uncover her birth parents past.

Aided by her mother s former lawyer, Gabriel Walsh, Olivia focuses on the Larsens last crime, the one her birth mother swears will prove their innocence. But as she and Gabriel start investigating the case, Olivia finds herself drawing on abilities that have remained hidden since her childhood, gifts that make her both a valuable addition to Cainsville and deeply vulnerable to unknown enemies.

 

Because there are darker secrets behind her new home, and powers lurking in the shadows that have their own plans for her.
 

When I found out Kelley Armstrong had a new series coming out, I couldn't wait to check it out.

 

Olivia Taylor-Jones is the daughter of a wealthy Chicago couple. She's lived a life of privilege and does a lot of volunteer work. She's also engaged to a man who has ambitions of going into politics. She's still trying to find her place in the world, but she's young and free to make up her mind when she's ready. Everything is going well. Until the night she finds out she was adopted. Not only is it a shock because she didn't know, but she also happens to be the daughter of Pamela and Todd Larsen--serial killers.

 

With the revelation, her life is changed forever. Everyone wants to know her story and after a particularly dangerous invasion of privacy, she flees. Now she has to deal with keeping a low profile, as well as with the distance her mother has put between them. Alone and with minimal money, she discovers just how harsh life can be in the real world. And after several bizarre encounters ends up in a small town called Cainsville--a lovely place with friendly people, gargoyles on just about every building, and secrets.

 

But it's when she meets her birth mother that everything really changes. Olivia starts to remember things, has strange dreams, and sees omens others don't, everywhere. Pamela claims they didn't kill any of the couples and asks Olivia--Eden--if she could pass their case onto a non-profit organisation. They'd like to launch another appeal. She agrees, but decides to pursue the investigation herself. And with the help of her mother's former lawyer, Gabriel Walsh, sets out on an adventure that leads to more questions than answers.

 

Wow. I was hooked from the very beginning and actually found it hard to put the book down. I just couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next. I'm SO intrigued by the town of Cainsville, which seems to be built on myth and legends from the old world.

 

Omens is an awesome book! I enjoyed every minute of it. Olivia's a very interesting character with a lot of heart and determination. She wants to find out the truth, even if it puts her in the path of danger. Gabriel is an enigma with a harsh exterior and ruthless nature. The townsfolk of Cainsville are a mysterious bunch and know a lot more than what they're letting on, can't wait to find out all of their secrets. I also hope we get to find out more about Ricky. :)

 

There are so many questions left unanswered, so I'm looking forward to reading the next book!

Omens, September 2013, ISBN  9780751553468, Sphere